Fight for power to end here

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk brings the Labor Party campaign machine to Townsville this morning.

No doubt there will be plenty of goodies up the Premier’s sleeve to offer the restless constituents of her three Townsville- based seats.

The election campaign has already been fascinating for political junkies but it has also indicated that it will be one of negativity, attacks and one- upping.

It is good to see the political parties taking Townsville so seriously because there is no doubt our city will be a deciding factor in who forms government.

The three Labor incumbents won their seats in an unprecedented election landslide in 2015 and, should the polling stack up, they could exit the same way.

Like it or not, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation will be a force in the next State Parliament, both through seats it wins and also with seats it delivers to the major parties through angry voters.

As has been evident in recent elections, voters are frustrated with the sameness of big parties and want clearer choices in the ballot box.

For this state election, the big difference between the major parties is power – specifically their attitude and policies surrounding the ways to bring down exorbitant power prices.

The Palaszczuk Labor Government is committed to increased reliance on renewables for Queensland’s energy needs and a continued withdrawal from coal- fired baseload power generation.

The LNP, on the other hand, has committed to commissioning a new coalfired super- critical high- efficiency, lowemissions baseload power plant within 100 days of taking office.

Minor parties have attacked both policies, with Katter’s Australian Party arguing the state needs action on prices now, not several years away when the power plant comes online.

Townsville has a difficult decision to make on November 25, but at least on this issue, the choice is clear.